Qantas says it has had a sixfold increase in bookings for flights to Europe over the past nine weeks, ahead of the launch on Sunday of its alliance with Emirates.

A Qantas A380 and another superjumbo from Emirates flew in formation above the Opera House in Sydney this morning to mark the beginning of the alliance. The pilots reportedly practised by flying the route dozens of times in sophisticated flight simulators.

The tie-up is mostly focused on routes to Europe but includes services to North Africa, the Middle East, Asia and New Zealand. The airlines still need regulatory approval for trans-Tasman flying from the New Zealand government.

House call ... the airline pilots rehearsed the route in sophisticated flight simulators. Photo: James Morgan/Qantas

Speaking shortly after the flyover, Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce said the airline had experienced a sixfold increase in bookings to Europe on the joint network in the first nine weeks of sales, compared with the same period last year.

Mr Joyce said the alliance was "one of the most important strategic initiatives that we will ever do", and would help turn around the performance of Qantas' international operations.

The deal has involved shifting Qantas' main overseas hub for flights to Europe from Singapore to Emirates' base in Dubai.

The two airlines will begin aligning fares over the next week as part of the tie-up.

Emirates president Tim Clark said it had been a "Herculean task" bringing the two airlines together in an alliance over the last few months.

Last week, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission gave its final approval for the alliance.

Federal Transport Minister Anthony Albanese, who is flying on the first Qantas flight to Dubai on Sunday, said the alliance was a "good arrangement for Australia and for the Australian travelling public".

"Qantas could not continue to be exactly as it has in the past [but] we need partnerships which a focus on the global aviation industry," he said. "Qantas has forged a partnership with a quality airlines."